“Iruka, what do you think is most important for a genius?” the Third Hokage asked seriously.
Iruka sat upright, thought for a long time, and answered, “It’s growth.” Hiruzen Sarutobi’s eyes showed approval.
“Exactly.” “The ninja world has never lacked geniuses.” “Yet, because of wars between nations, outside missions, and many other reasons, the number of geniuses who actually live to grow up is tiny.” “Therefore, protecting geniuses, educating them, and letting them grow is of the utmost importance.” “In doing so, tempering their character is vital.
We must never let them grow proud.” “In battle, pride and looking down on an enemy mean death.” “Then, Lord Hokage, according to your meaning…” Iruka asked carefully.
The Third Hokage thought it over for a moment, then spoke.
“Do not let Kamiki become overly proud, but give him appropriate praise.” A look of pleasant surprise appeared in Iruka’s eyes, his mind instantly clearing as if enlightened!
As expected of Lord Hokage!
This approach would keep a genius from getting cocky while building his confidence, without pushing him down too hard.
“I understand!” With that, Iruka left the Hokage’s office with excitement.
After Iruka left, the Third Hokage waved his hand, calling in a masked Anbu operative.
He asked, “Yamato, do you think it is possible for Kamiki to use Wood Release?” The Anbu operative addressed as Yamato knelt respectfully on the floor of the Hokage’s office and answered truthfully, “Wood Release was the First Lord’s specialty, an extremely rare Kekkei Genkai.” “Back then, Orochimaru captured so many children for experiments, and I was the only one who survived.” “We cannot let a genius take such a massive risk…” Hearing Yamato’s words, the Third Hokage chuckled.
“What are you thinking?
I would never use human lives for experiments.” “What I mean is, given Kamiki’s special bloodline and the talent he has shown, could he perhaps tap into Wood Release on his own…?” Faced with this question, Yamato fell silent.
After a long pause, he answered, “This subordinate does not know.” Inside the Ninja Academy classroom.
Iruka-sensei finally returned.
Stepping inside, the first person Iruka noticed was Kamiki sitting in the corner.
He prepared to follow the teaching method the Third Hokage laid out: give Kamiki some praise, but keep him from becoming overly proud!
Iruka walked over to Kamiki’s side, patted his shoulder encouragingly, and said, “That clone technique you used earlier was not bad.
Keep up the hard work.” Kamiki’s eyes lit up.
Praise!
Approval!
Looks like there’s hope for me to stay in the academy!
“Yes, Sensei!
I will definitely work even harder from now on!” Kamiki said, his voice laced with excitement.
“Mm…” Iruka nodded with an air of deep contemplation, though his eyelid twitched madly underneath.
Work even harder?!
If you pull off another breakthrough or two, I won’t even have a job left!
The day’s lessons wrapped up quickly.
As usual, before class let out, Iruka reminded them of what to review for tomorrow.
“Tomorrow, we will test everyone on shuriken throwing.
Make sure none of you disappoint me.” As Iruka spoke, he noticed Kamiki’s eager gaze.
A tiny bit of pride rose in Iruka’s chest.
Tomorrow is shuriken practice.
I don’t believe you’ll have any hidden tricks for that!
After all, besides accuracy, there are no other standards for throwing shuriken!
After school, Kamiki and Naruto walked side by side.
Naruto opened his mouth, wanting to invite Kamiki out to play.
But seeing how serious Kamiki looked, Naruto guessed he would probably train hard again tonight, so he swallowed his words.
“Kamiki, take care of your body while you train,” Naruto warned him.
Kamiki nodded.
“Yeah, I will.” “Sorry, Naruto, I can’t hang out with you these past couple days.” “I’m falling too far behind in class.
If this goes on, I won’t graduate.” Seeing how dedicated Kamiki was to studying, Naruto showed complete understanding.
Kamiki returned home.
Looking at the empty rooms of his house, he walked into the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Once he finished eating, he immediately threw himself entirely into training!
Late at night, the moon shone bright amidst scattered stars.
A wooden dummy stood in front of the courtyard.
Swish!
Swish!
Swish!
Shuriken flew from Kamiki’s hands one after another!
Without exception, every single one struck the bullseye dead-center!
Just as Kamiki prepared for the next round of throws, he noticed something.
Under the moonlight, a dark shadow stretched across the ground before him!
Someone was watching him from behind!
In an instant, a chill ran straight down Kamiki’s spine!
He spun around in alarm, snapped his wrist, and flung several shuriken!
Swish, swish, swish!
The shuriken glinted with cold metallic light in the night sky, flying straight toward the dark silhouette crouched on his courtyard wall!
Right before the shuriken hit— Whoosh, whoosh!
Vine-like tendrils suddenly sprouted from the shadow, batting away every shuriken Kamiki threw!
Immediately after, the mysterious figure crouched on the wall leaped down, landing right in front of Kamiki!
Kamiki backed away on high alert!
Although the nations were at peace right now, the tension between the hidden villages had never faded.
Word was that people in the Leaf often died suddenly.
Rumors said they were killed by assassins sent by rival villages!
Cold sweat broke out on Kamiki’s forehead.
Could this person in front of me be an assassin sent by another village?!
At the thought, Kamiki clenched his fists.
He had only transmigrated into this world recently; he was not going to throw his life away for nothing!
“No matter who you are, I will never give up!” Kamiki yelled at the top of his lungs and snapped his hands into the seal for the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!
The very next second.
Poof, poof, poof…
Over a thousand shadow clones filled the courtyard!
Seeing Kamiki summon such an absurd army of shadow clones, the dark figure froze for a brief second.
Kamiki seized this rare opening, and all the clones swarmed forward as one!
Caught off guard, the figure was completely tackled to the ground by the horde of clones!
Kamiki was not naive enough to think shadow clones alone could take down a powerful foreign ninja.
While the clones bought him precious time, inspiration struck his mind like lightning!
He understood it!
Gather chakra in the palm, let it spin in wild, irregular directions, and compress it into a palm-sized, non-elemental sphere of chakra!
This was—the Rasengan!
Besides, this jutsu had no harsh casting requirements; it didn’t even need hand signs, making it quite simple to pull off!
Thinking of this, Kamiki gathered chakra energy in the center of his palm.
All the energy in his body rushed toward his hand…
Soon, a Rasengan swirling with dense, violent chakra formed in Kamiki’s palm!
By then, the clones holding down the dark figure were completely dispersed.
The dark figure pushed himself up, opening his mouth as if to say something.
“I…” Yet before he could finish his sentence, Kamiki charged straight at him, smashing the sphere forward!
“Die for me!”